Google's UK PR chief Peter Barron is moving to a new role focusing on the firm's external relations, media industry partnerships and work with privacy groups. From January, Barron becomes director of external relations for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Barron will be replaced as head of communications and public affairs for north and central Europe regions by former Times technology correspondent Mike Harvey, who has started work at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California, this week.

Claudine Beaumont, the former Daily Telegraph technology editor, is also understood to be joining Google – though the company declined to comment.